Machine for splicing tire cord

ABSTRACT

A machine for splicing adjacent ends of textile cords suitable for reinforcing rubberized material used to build pneumatic tires. The machine has a pair of clamps for holding a couple of cord ends in tensioned, adjacent parallel relation, and a ring with a spool of thread for rotating in thread-wrapping relation around the cord ends, after the free end of the thread is knotted to the cord ends intermediate the clamps. The clamps are movable along an axis normal to the plane of the ring when the ring rotates, such that the thread wraps in spiraling relation around the cord ends held between the clamps. The thread extending from the wrapped cord ends is then cut and tied to the cord ends to complete the splice.

United States Patent LaRue 1 1 July 11, 1972 s41 MACHINE FOR SPLICINGTIRE CORD 3,504,488 4/1970 lllman ..s7/22 [72] Inventor: James F. LeRue,Cuyahoga Falls, Ol'uo ammimr john Petraka [73] Assignee: The GoodyearTire & Rubber Company, Attorney-F. W. Brunner and Harlan E. HummerAkron, Ohio 221 Filed: 01 9, 1910 [57] ABSTRACT A machine for splicingadjacent ends of textile cords suitable App. 79433 for reinforcingrubbenzed' material used to build pneumatic tires. The machine has apair of clamps for holding a couple of cord em in unsigned adjacgntrelation and a [51] Int. Cl ..B6$h 69/06 with a spool f bread f routingin threwq apping l ti [58] Flddolstlrch ..57/22,23, 159 around the cordends. n the f end of the thread is knotted to the cord ends intermcdia'te the clamps. The clamps [56] Cm are movable along an axis normal tothe plane of the ring when the ring rotates, such that the thread wrapsin spiraling rela- U D STATES PATENTS tion around the cord ends heldbetween the clamps. The 2.97 l ,3 I 9 SPCHCCI' thread extending fiom {bewrapped 0 rd ends then cut and I to the co d ends to complgte the splice2,765,003 I0]! 956 Willis et al. ...57/22 X 3,307,339 3/ I967 Porter..$7/22 20 Clahm, 5 Drawing figures P'A'TEWEBJUL 1 1 m2 SHEET 1 BF 3INVENTOR JAMES F. LARUE ATTORNEY PATENTEDJuL 11 m2 3 675' saw 2 or aINVENTOR JAMES F. LARUE ATTORNEY PlTENTEnJuL 11 m2 3.675.407

sum 3 or 3 mm H INVENTOR JAMES F. LARUE MEAL-u...

ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The invention is especially suitablefor splicing adjacent ends of tire cord composed of fiberglass, which isdifficult material to work with and join, for example, by tying orfusing the ends together. A good splice can be made by wrapping arelatively thin thread of any suitable material, e.g., cotton, spirallyaround the cord ends for a distance sufficient to maintain the endstogether under a predetermined axial load. Adhesive can be applied tothe splice to further cement the cord ends together. Such a splice isnot easy to make by hand and any hand splices would vary in quality. Itis, therefore, desirable to use a machine to wind or wrap the cottonthread spirally around a pair of adjacent tire cord ends, since thewrappings would be generally more uniform, tighter and closer together.It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a machine whichcan suitably join two tire cord ends together, especially tire cordscomposed of fiberglass material.

Briefly state, the invention is in a machine for splicing tire cordmaterial. The machine comprises a pair of spaced clamps for holding apair of tire cord ends in parallel relation, and means for tensioningthe tire cord ends held by the clamps. A wrapping ring, disposed betweenthe clamps, carries a spool of thread for wrapping around the tire cordends and splicing them together. Means are provided for simultaneouslyrotating the ring in thread-wrapping relation around the tire cord endsand causing relative movement between the tire cord ends and ring tospirally wrap the thread around the ends.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The following description of the inventionwill be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawing,wherein:

FIG. I is a side view of a machine for splicing tire cords;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the machine with the operating motor removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view from the line 3-3 of FIG. 2',

FIG. 4 is a clamp of the machine viewed from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view from the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and2 of the drawing, there is shown a machine, generally indicated at 10,for splicing textile cords, especially cords composed of fiberglass,suitable for reinforcing rubberized material used to build pneumatictires. The machine It) comprises a stand 1 l, including a bass 12mounted on a number of similar legs 13. The legs 13 are adjustable forraising and lowering the base 12 to accommodate an operator in either asitting or standing position. The machine stand 11 is movable, beingmounted on a set of casters 14, and is provided with a conventionallydesigned floor lock 15 for engaging the floor and holding the machine 10firmly in position while it is being operated.

GENERAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY.

A motor mount 16 is welded in upstanding relation on the machine base12. A )4 horsepower electric motor 17 is secured to the motor mount 16,and has a protruding shaft 18 on which is mounted an adjustable widthmain drive pulley I9. A hand-operated, rotatable wheel 20 is used forvarying the spacing between the opposing truncated sides 21 and 22 ofthe main drive pulley 19. A flexible belt 23 operatively connects themain drive pulley to a spring-biased drive wheel 24, keyed to a maindrive shaft 25, which is joumalled for rotation in a pair of spacedpillow blocks 26 and 27 secured to the machine base I2.

A pair of flexible couplings 28 and 29 are provided in the drive chainfor connecting the main drive shaft to a speed reducer 30 andcombination electric clutch and brake mechanism 3!, respectively, whichare mounted on the machine base I2 in shaft aligning relation with themain drive shafi 25. The speed reducer 30 is coupled by a pair ofaligned sprocket wheels 32 and 33 and connecting chain belt 34, to anelectric slip clutch 35. The speed of the electric motor l7, orrotational speed of the main drive shaft 25, is variable by adjustingthe belt seating diameter of the main drive pulley l9 and drive wheel24.

CLAMPING ASSEMBLY.

A set ofclamps 40 and 41 are provided and act as a pair of supports forholding a pair of tire cord ends in adjacent, parallel tensionedrelation. The tire cord ends held between the clamps 40 and 41 aregenerally horizontal and parallel to the main drive shaft 25.

Each of the clamps 40 and 41 (FIG. 4) comprises a pair of jaws 42 and43, which are pivotally mounted for rotation towards and away from eachother. A coil spring 44 acts to bias the jaws 42 and 43 in an openposition or away from each other to permit placing the tire cordstherebetween. A handle 45 is used for operating or rotating aneccentrically mounted cam 46 to close or tighten the jaws 42 and 43firmly against the tire cords. The position of each pair of clamp jaws42 and 43 is vertically and horizontally adjustable to properly positionthe tire cord ends for thread-wrapping relation and splicing.

The clamp 41 is mounted on a pivot pin 49 at the base 50 of anupstanding leg 51, for rotation toward and away from the other opposingclamp 40. A coil spring 52 is provided for biasing the clamp 41 in anangular position in closer spaced relation towards the other clamp 40. Alever 53 and connecting link 54, coupled between the clamp 41 and leg51, are used for moving the clamp 41 slightly away from the opposingclamp 40 into abutting relation against the upstanding leg 51, totension the tire cord ends held between the jaws 42 and 43 of the clamps40 and 41.

The clamps 40 and 41 are secured in spaced relation on a drive rod 57 byany suitable means, e.g., set screws 58. The drive rod 57 is preferablyparallel to the main drive shaft 25, and is slidably mounted in a pairof bushings 59 and 60, which are secured in spaced relation to themachine base 12. A gear rack 61 is coupled to the adjacent axiallyaligned end 62 of the drive rod 57. A pinion or gear 63 is mounted on anadjacent shaft 64 protruding from the electric slip clutch 35. Thepinion 63 is in meshing, driving engagement with the upstanding teeth onthe gear rack 61. The gear rack 61 is slidably supported in a U-shapedkeeper 65 secured to the machine base 12.

A guide rail 68 is secured to the bushings 59 and 60 below, and inparallel relation to the drive rod 57. An extension 69 of the clamp 40is slidably mounted for movement along the guide rail 68 in response tounitary movement of the clamp 40 and drive rod 57. This particularmechanism helps to stabilize the drive rod 57, which has a slighttendency to rotate.

A pair of conventionally designed sensing mechanisms, e. 3., limitswitches 70 and 71, are mounted on the machine base 12 for sensing thetravel of the clamps 40 and 41 and drive rod 57.

WRAPPING ASSEMBLY.

An assembly, generally indicated at 72, is provided for wrappingrelatively thin thread of any suitable material, e.g., cotton, insurrounding relation around the adjacent parallel tire cord endstensioned between the clamps 40 and 41. The wrapping assembly 72comprises a pair of support arms 73 and 74 (FIG. 3), which are securedin upstanding relation on either side 75 and 76 of the machine base 12.A pair of side plates 77 and 78 (FIGS. 1-2) are adjustably mounted inupstanding relation on the support arms 73 and 74 by any suitable means,e.g., adjusting screws 79 and 80, and form a housing for a set ofpulleys 81, 82 and 83, which are disposed in base inverted, triangularspaced relation between the side plates 77 and 78.

The lower pulley 81 acts as the main drive pulley and is keyed to anoperating shaft 84 extending from the combination electric brake andclutch mechanism 31. The upper pulleys 82 and 83 are rotatably mountedon the side plates 77 and 78 and act more as guide pulleys for a drivebelt 85 with spaced lugs and recesses therebetween, which is reevedaround the pulleys 81-83 for rotating them in unison. The drive belt 85is tensioned on the pulleys 81-83 by rotating the adjusting screws 79and 80 to move the side plates 77 and 78 vertically in unison in adirection away from a machine base 12.

A toothed wrapping ring 86 is freely disposed in a cradle 87 formed bythe lugged drive belt 85 between the upper guide ulleys 82 and 83. Theteeth of the wrapping ring 86 and the lugs of the drive belt 85 are inmeshing engagement, such that the drive belt 85 will drive or rotate thewrapping ring 86. The upper guide pulleys 82 and 83 slightly overhangand cornpressibly engage the wrapping ring 86 to maintain it within thecradle 87 of the drive belt 85. It should be apparent from the drawingthat the lugged belt 85 and upper pulleys 82 and 83 coact to maintainthe ring 86 rotating about a fixed axis passing through the center pointof the ring 86 in transverse relation to the plane of the ring 86.

A number of arcuately spaced guides 88, 89, and 90 (FIG. 3) engage andkeep the wrapping ring rotating in a plane, which is preferably normalto the main drive shaft 25. Each of the guides 88-90 comprises a pair ofoppositely disposed rollers 91 and 92 (FIG. 1), which compressively androtatably engage opposing sides 93 and 94 of the wrapping ring 86. Theroller portion actually engaging the wrapping ring 86 is preferablycomposed of plastic. Each of the guide rollers 91 and 92 is laterallyadjustable relative to the wrapping ring 86 by any suitable means, e.g.,adjusting screws and nuts indicated at 95 (FIG. 1).

A pair of T-shaped brackets I and 101 (FIGS. 3 and project in parallelrelation from the inner periphery 102 of the wrapping ring 86. A pair ofcover plates I03 and 104 are treadably mounted in parallel relation onthe T-brackets 100 and 101. A centrally disposed spindle 105 extendsfrom the cover plate 104 for receiving an adjacent end 106 of a spool107 of thread used to wrap around the tire cords. The opposing end 108of the spool 107 of thread is threadably engaged by a rotatable knob 109fastened to the other cover plate 103. The cover plate 103, spool 107,and knob 109 are removed as an assembly for quick replacement of adepleted spool of thread. The free end of the thread is taken from thespool 107 and passed through an eyelet 110 of a configured arm 111extending from the T-bracket 100. A support arm 112 extends from theother T-bracket 101, and holds a mechanism. generally indicated at 113,for tensioning thread leaving the spool 107.

The tensioning mechanism 113 comprises a plunger 114, which is biasedagainst thread on the spool 107 by any suitable means, e.g., coil spring115. A screw 116, surrounding the plunger 114, is threadably adjustableon the support arm 112 for varying the spring tension and consequentforce the plunger 114 exerts against the thread wrapped on the spool107.

OPERATION OF THE SPLICING MACHINE.

THe electric motor 17 and the electric clutches 31 and 35 are inseparate electrical circuits with an outside source of power andconventionally designed pushbutton switches. Thus, the electric motor 17can be operated while the slip clutches 31 and 35 are disengaged toprevent operation of the wrapping ring 86 and movement of the gear rack61. Assuming this is the case, adjacent ends of two tire cords to bespliced, are placed in parallel side-by-side relation between the clamps40 and 41. The jaws 42 and 43 of the clamps 40 and 41 are tightened tosecure the tire cord firmly in the clamps. The lever 53 is then rotatedto tension the tire cords between the clamps 40 and 41. A slot or groove120, extending transversely through the wrapping ring 86, is provided tofacilitate moving the tire cords through the wrapping ring 86 forplacement in the clamps 40 and 41. The free end of the wrapping threadextending from the eyelet 110, is knotted or tied around the tire cord:at a point where it is desired to begin the splice.

The slip clutch 35 is disengaged and, therefore, the drive rod 57 can bemoved axially to laterally position the clamps 40 and 41 in relation tothe wrapping ring 86. in this manner, the length of the splice can bevaried. Moreover, it is preferable that the wrapping thread from theeyelet be normal to the tire cord. However, it is difficult to knot thethread around the tire cords in the vicinity of the wrapping ring 86 andside plates 77 and 78. Therefore, the clamps 40 and 41 are generallymoved to one side, such that the beginning of the splice or point ofknotting the thread around the tire cords is outside the wrapping ringhousing or side plates 77 and 78.

This means that after tying the knot, the drive rod 57 must be moved toreposition the clamps 40 and 41 such that the wrapping thread is nonnalto the tire cords. It should be appreciated that considerable slack inthe thread develops between the eyelet and tire cords when the knot ismade. The slack is taken up by rotating the knob 109 which, in turn,rotates the spool 107 of thread to remove the slack in the thread andtension it. The machine 10 is now ready to operate and form the spliceby spirally wrapping the thread around the tire cords.

A second manually operated switch is pressed to engage the clutches 31and 35 and place the main drive shaft 25 in driving relation with theshafts 64 and 84 controlling operation of the drive rod 57 and wrappingring 86. Simultaneously, the drive rod 57 moves axially to the left(FIG. I) and the wrapping ring 86 begins rotating. The clamps 40 and 41and tire cords held therebetween, are correspondingly moved and thethread is wrapped in spiral relation around the tire cords until theclamp 41 engages the limit switch 71, which acts to break the electricalcircuit to the slip clutches 31 and 35, thereby stopping operation ofthe wrapping ring 86 and movement of the gear rack 61 and drive rod 57.The wrapping thread adjacent the eyelet 110 is then severed and knottedaround the tire cords to complete the splice. An adhesive or cement canbe applied to the wrapping for increasing the strength of the splice.

The number of spiral turns of the wrapping thread per inch can bechanged by varying the axial speed or movement of the drive rod 57. Thisis most conveniently accomplished by changing the size of the sprocketwheels 32 and 33 associated with the clutch 35 and speed reducer 30.

The clamps 40 and 41 can be returned manually to their normal positionas shown in FIG. 1, since the clutch 35 is disengaged. Moreover, thewrapping ring 86 can be rotated to a position where the slot is in anuppermost position, because the other clutch 31 is also disengaged. Thelimit switch 70 is provided to stop travel of the drive rod 57 andprevent damage to the machine if, for example, reverse polarizationoccurs and causes the electric motor 17 to reverse and move the driverod 57 in a normally opposite direction, such that the clamp 41 strikesthe adjacent side plate 78 or hits the rotating wrapping ring 86.

Thus, there has been described a new and novel machine for splicingadjacent ends of tire cords by wrapping relatively thin thread aroundthe cords a predetermined length to hold the cords t'umly together insplicing engagement.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forthe purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for splicing tire cords, comprising:

a. a pair of spaced supports;

b. means for clamping a pair of tire cord ends in tensioned relationbetween the supports;

c. a mechanism disposed between the supports for holding thread used forwrapping around and holding the tire cord ends together in splicedrelation;

d. means for rotating the mechanism in thread-wrapping relation aroundthe tire cord ends clamped between the pp e. means for causing relativemovement between the mechanism and tire cord ends to spirally wrap thethread around the ends; and

f. means for changing the speed at which the supports move along saidaxis to correspondingly change the number of spiral wrappings per unitof cord length measured axially along the tire cord ends clamped in thesupports.

2. The machine of claim I, wherein the means (e) includes means forcausing relative movement between the supports and mechanism.

3. The machine of claim 2, which includes means for moving the supportsin unison along an axis normal to a fixed plane in which the mechanismrotates.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the mechanism includes:

g. a ring disposed in surrounding relation around the tire cord endsclamped between the supports;

h. a slot extending transversely through the rings; and

i. means for mounting a spool of thread on the ring.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the thread mounting means (i)includes means for tensioning thread leaving the spool.

6. A machine for splicing tire cords, comprising:

a. a pair of spaced supports;

b. means for clamping a pair of tire cord ends in tensioned relationbetween the supports, said means including a pair of clamp jaws carriedby each support for engaging and holding the tire cord endstherebetween, and means for moving at least one pair of clamp jaws in adirection away from the other pair of clamp jaws for tensioning the tirecord ends;

c. a mechanism disposed between die supports for holding thread used forwrapping around and holding the tire cord ends together in splicedrelation, said mechanism including:

I. a ring disposed in surrounding relation around the tire cord endsclamped between the supports;

2. a slot extending transversely through the rings; and

3. means for mounting a spool of thread on the ring, said spool mountingmeans including means for tensioning thread leaving the spool;

d. means for rotating the mechanism in thread-wrapping relation aroundthe tire cord ends clamped between the supports; and

e. means for causing relative movement between the mechanism and tirecord ends to spirally wrap the thread around the ends.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the rotating means (d) includes:

i. means for supporting the ring for rotation about a fixed axis, saidmeans including a drive belt reeved in supporting and guiding relationat least partially around the ring.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the movement causing means (e)includes:

j. means for moving the supports laterally in unison relative to thering.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the support moving means (j)includes:

k. means for guiding the supports along a common axis normal to theplane of the ring; and

m. means for varying the spacing between the supports.

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the support guiding means (It)includes a drive rod, drive rod, and a rotatable pinion ment with thegear rack.

11. The machine of claim 10, which includes a common drive mechanism formoving the drive belt and inion, and means for allowing slippage betweenthe drive mec anism and pinion to vary the lateral position of thesupports relative to the ring and consequent axial length of thewrapping around the tire cord en 12. A machine for splicing tire cords,comprising:

a. a pair of spaced clamps for supporting a pair of tire cord ends inadjacent, parallel relation therebetween, each clamp including a pair ofjaws for grasping the cord ends;

b. means for tensioning the tire cord ends held between the clamps;

c. means for mounting the clamps for unitary axial movement; means forvarying die spacing between the clamps;

e. a set of three pulleys disposed in base inverted triangular relationbetween the clamps and being in a plane normal to the axis along whichthe clamps move;

f. a belt reeved around the pulleys and forming a cradle therebetween;

g. a wrapping ring disposed in the cradle and rotatable in the plane ofthe pulleys in response to movement of the belt;

h. means for maintaining the ring seated against the cradle in engagedrelation with the belt as the ring rotates;

i. means for guiding the ring to keep it rotating in the plane of thepulley;

j. means for mounting a spool of wrapping thread on the it. means fortensioning thread as it leaves the spool; and

m. means for simultaneously moving the clamps axially in unison androtating the ring such that thread wraps spirally around the tire cordends.

13. The machine of claim l2, wherein the means (h) includes mounting theupper pair of triangularly mounted pulleys in closer spaced relationthan the overall diameter of the wrapping ring.

14. The machine of claim l3, which includes:

n. means for adjusting the tension in the belt.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the means (i) includes arcuatelyspaced pairs of spaced rollers for engaging opposing sides of the ring,and means for varying the spacing between each pair of spaced rollers.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the means (m) includes:

o. a main drive shaft rotatable to drive the belt and a drive rodcoupled to the clamps; and

p. means interposed between the belt and drive rod and main drive shahfor disengaging the belt and drive rod from the main drive shaft and outof driven engagement therewith.

17. The machine of claim 16, which includes:

q. means for adjusting the lateral position of the clamps relative tothe wrapping ring.

18. The machine of claim 17, which includes a slot disposed transverselythrough the wrapping ring.

19. The machine of claim 18, which includes means for vertically andhorizontally adjusting each clamp relative to an axis, which passesthrough the center point of the ring and is nonnal to the plane of thering.

20. The machine of claim 19, which includes means for changing the speedat which the clamps move axially in unison, to correspondingly changethe number of spiral wrappings per unit of cord length measured axiallyalong the tire cord ends clamped in the supports.

I i i i i a gear rack coupled to the for meshing, driving engage-

1. A machine for splicing tire cords, comprising: a. a pair of spacedsupports; b. means for clamping a pair of tire cord ends in tensionedrelation between the supports; c. a mechanism disposed between thesupports for holding thread used for wrapping around and holding thetire cord ends together in spliced relation; d. means for rotating themechanism in thread-wrapping relation around the tire cord ends clampedbetween the supports; e. means for causing relative movement between themechanism and tire cord ends to spirally wrap the thread around theends; and f. means for changing the speed at which the supports movealong said axis to correspondingly change the number of spiral wrappingsper unit of cord length measured axially along the tire cord endsclamped in the supports.
 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the means(e) includes means for causing relative movement between the supportsand mechanism.
 2. a slot extending transversely through the rings; and3. means for mounting a spool of thread on the ring, said spool mountingmeans including means for tensioning thread leaving the spool; d. meansfor rotating the mechanism in thread-wrapping relation around the tirecord ends clamped between the supports; and e. means for causingrelative movement between the mechanism and tire cord ends to spirallywrap the thread around the ends.
 3. The machine of claim 2, whichincludes means for moving the supports in unison along an axis normal toa fixed plane in which the mechanism rotates.
 4. The machine of claim 3,wherein the mechanism includes: g. a ring disposed in surroundingrelation around the tire cord ends clamped between the supports; h. aslot extending transversely through the rings; and i. means for mountinga spool of thread on the ring.
 5. The machine of claim 4, wherein thethread mounting means (i) includes means for tensioning thread leavingthe spool.
 6. A machine for splicing tire cords, comprising: a. a pairof spaced supports; b. means for clamping a pair of tire cord ends intensioned relation between the supports, said means including a pair ofclamp jaws carried by each support for engaging and holding the tirecord ends therebetween, and means for moving at least one pair of clampjaws in a direction away from the other pair of clamp jaws fortensioning the tire cord ends; c. a mechanism disposed between thesupports for holding thread used for wrapping around and holding thetire cord ends together in spliced relation, said mechanism including:7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the rotating means (d) includes: i.means for supporting the ring for rotation about a fixed axis, saidmeans including a drive belt reeved in supporting and guiding relationat least partially around the ring.
 8. The machine of claim 7, whereinthe movement causing means (e) includes: j. means for moving thesupports laterally in unison relative to thE ring.
 9. The machine ofclaim 8, wherein the support moving means (j) includes: k. means forguiding the supports along a common axis normal to the plane of thering; and m. means for varying the spacing between the supports.
 10. Themachine of claim 9, wherein the support guiding means (k) includes adrive rod, a gear rack coupled to the drive rod, and a rotatable pinionfor meshing, driving engagement with the gear rack.
 11. The machine ofclaim 10, which includes a common drive mechanism for moving the drivebelt and pinion, and means for allowing slippage between the drivemechanism and pinion to vary the lateral position of the supportsrelative to the ring and consequent axial length of the wrapping aroundthe tire cord ends.
 12. A machine for splicing tire cords, comprising:a. a pair of spaced clamps for supporting a pair of tire cord ends inadjacent, parallel relation therebetween, each clamp including a pair ofjaws for grasping the cord ends; b. means for tensioning the tire cordends held between the clamps; c. means for mounting the clamps forunitary axial movement; d. means for varying the spacing between theclamps; e. a set of three pulleys disposed in base inverted triangularrelation between the clamps and being in a plane normal to the axisalong which the clamps move; f. a belt reeved around the pulleys andforming a cradle therebetween; g. a wrapping ring disposed in the cradleand rotatable in the plane of the pulleys in response to movement of thebelt; h. means for maintaining the ring seated against the cradle inengaged relation with the belt as the ring rotates; i. means for guidingthe ring to keep it rotating in the plane of the pulley; j. means formounting a spool of wrapping thread on the ring; k. means for tensioningthread as it leaves the spool; and m. means for simultaneously movingthe clamps axially in unison and rotating the ring such that threadwraps spirally around the tire cord ends.
 13. The machine of claim 12,wherein the means (h) includes mounting the upper pair of triangularlymounted pulleys in closer spaced relation than the overall diameter ofthe wrapping ring.
 14. The machine of claim 13, which includes: n. meansfor adjusting the tension in the belt.
 15. The machine of claim 14,wherein the means (i) includes arcuately spaced pairs of spaced rollersfor engaging opposing sides of the ring, and means for varying thespacing between each pair of spaced rollers.
 16. The machine of claim15, wherein the means (m) includes: o. a main drive shaft rotatable todrive the belt and a drive rod coupled to the clamps; and p. meansinterposed between the belt and drive rod and main drive shaft fordisengaging the belt and drive rod from the main drive shaft and out ofdriven engagement therewith.
 17. The machine of claim 16, whichincludes: q. means for adjusting the lateral position of the clampsrelative to the wrapping ring.
 18. The machine of claim 17, whichincludes a slot disposed transversely through the wrapping ring.
 19. Themachine of claim 18, which includes means for vertically andhorizontally adjusting each clamp relative to an axis, which passesthrough the center point of the ring and is normal to the plane of thering.
 20. The machine of claim 19, which includes means for changing thespeed at which the clamps move axially in unison, to correspondinglychange the number of spiral wrappings per unit of cord length measuredaxially along the tire cord ends clamped in the supports.